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As part of National T Levels Week 2026, Amazing Apprenticeships is hosting a dedicated webinar for parents and carers to help explain what T Levels are, how they differ from other post-16 options, and where they can lead.
The session will include David Scott, T Levels Lead at the Department for Education, alongside a parent sharing their own experience of supporting a young person through the T Level route.
T Levels Week Parent and Carer Webinar: Understanding T Levels Tuesday 20 October 2026 6:30pm–7:15pm
Even if you cannot attend live, we would still encourage you to register, as all registrants will receive access to the webinar recording and slides afterwards.
This is a useful opportunity for families to find out more about one of the technical education routes available after Year 11 and to support conversations at home about future options.
We are looking forward to welcoming students in Years 9, 10 and 11 to our upcoming Careers Fair, giving them the opportunity to speak directly with a range of colleges, training providers, employers and organisations about their next steps beyond XP.
The aim of the afternoon is to help students explore the different routes available after secondary school, ask questions, compare options and begin making informed decisions about what might suit them best. For Year 10, the afternoon will also include a short soft launch of Work Experience 2027, encouraging students to start noticing sectors, organisations and opportunities that may interest them in the future.
We are pleased to have a broad range of confirmed providers attending, including Doncaster College, New College Doncaster, Outwood Academy Danum Post 16, Club Doncaster Foundation Sports College, Active Fusion, the RAF, South Yorkshire Police and the National Horseracing College.
Each provider brings something different, from A Levels and vocational courses to apprenticeships, specialist training, public-service careers and employment routes. We want students to use the opportunity to ask meaningful questions about entry requirements, courses, progression, apprenticeships, practical experience and what they could be doing now to prepare for their next step.
Year 11 parents and carers
We would particularly like to invite Year 11 parents and carers to join us for the final part of the fair.
From 4:30pm until 4:45pm, Year 11 families are welcome to drop in and speak with providers alongside their child. This is an opportunity to have a longer conversation about possible next steps after XP, including college courses, sixth-form options, apprenticeships, specialist provision and other routes.
For some students, knowing what comes next already feels quite clear. For others, there may still be lots of questions. Both are completely normal at this stage. Having students, families and providers in the same room gives everyone the chance to hear the same information, ask questions together and begin making plans with greater confidence.
Please note that the after-school parent/carer drop-in is for Year 11 families only.
We are really looking forward to seeing students making connections, asking good questions and beginning to make their futures a little more visible.
What a busy week it has been for Crew Brunel! We have certainly packed a lot into Crew this week, with plenty of opportunities to learn, reflect, celebrate and work together.
From getting creative with scrapbooking and looking back at our memories and experiences, to learning how to say “hello” in all 19 languages spoken by our students and staff at XP Doncaster, there has been lots going on! We have also been celebrating the success of Year 10 so far as part of our Crew Phase. It is important to take time to recognise the progress we have made, the challenges we have overcome and the hard work that has gone into getting us to where we are now. There is still plenty of hard work ahead, but there is also lots to be proud of! Alongside this, Crew Brunel have been getting stuck into some People’s Health revision this week, working together to revisit key knowledge and test our understanding.
This week’s special shout-out has to go to David!
Last weekend, David joined some of our Year 10 students and staff to complete a 5K run in support of Young Lives vs Cancer. It was fantastic to hear that our students challenged themselves while raising awareness and money for such an important cause. A huge well done to David for getting involved and completing the 5K — you should be incredibly proud! And a massive well done to everyone who took part and helped make the event such a success.
If you are able to donate a few pounds to support the fundraising effort, it would be hugely appreciated. Every donation, big or small, can make a difference.
This week’s Thoughtful Thursday gave Crew Brunel the opportunity to pause, reflect and think carefully about how we have started our Year 10 journey.
As we begin preparing for our GCSEs, developing good habits, taking ownership of our learning and understanding our strengths and areas for improvement are becoming increasingly important. Our session focused on exactly that – taking responsibility for where we are now and thinking about where we want to go next.
We began with our first round of HoWL reflections. Students self-assessed their progress across each of our three HoWLs: Work Hard, Get Smart and Be Kind. They used the HoWL rubric to RAG-rate themselves and awarded themselves a grade for each area. Once completed, students calculated their overall HoWL average, giving them a clear picture of their current strengths and areas for development as they settle into Key Stage 4.
The important part came next – setting SMART targets. With GCSE preparation now underway, students identified specific areas they wanted to improve and thought about practical steps they could take to develop their learning habits and make progress.
We then switched things around and moved on to peer assessment. Students assessed each other’s HoWLs based on what they have seen from their peers in sessions so far. They followed the same process of RAG-rating, grading and calculating an average, before finishing by setting a target for someone in their class. This encouraged students to consider how their actions and attitudes are seen by others, while also thinking about how they can support their peers to improve.
To finish the session, we looked back at our praises and conducts from the week and completed our SOS analysis. We celebrated the successes shown on our Crew leaderboard, recognised individual achievements and reflected on some of the conducts that had been recorded. Students were encouraged to think about what had gone well, what we wondered about and what we could do differently moving forward.
Finally, we selected two students to set pledges for next term, giving them a clear personal focus to work on and develop as we continue through Year 10.
Roan – ” I pledge to complete all of my extended study tasks to the best of my ability and make sure they are submitted on time to help improve my Get Smart HoWL from a 2.5 to a 3. “
Brooke – ” I pledge to arrive on time every day this term, helping me improve my Work Hard HoWL from a 3 to a 3.5. “
A really thoughtful and purposeful session from Crew Brunel. As we take our first steps into KS4 and GCSE preparation, it was great to see students reflecting honestly, taking ownership of their progress and thinking about the small changes they can make now to help them succeed in the future.
The last few weeks have completely flown by, and that is largely down to just how much awesome work Year 8 have been producing. They have been absolutely blowing my mind with the start they have made to their new expedition, Being Human.
We began with immersion, with students being challenged to think hard, spot patterns and make connections without yet knowing exactly where the expedition was heading..
One of the biggest moments was our fieldwork to Danes Dyke, where students took part in fossil hunting. On the surface, it looked like the expedition might be heading in the direction of dinosaurs, but that was all part of the mystery. The fossils encouraged students to think scientifically about evidence from the past, while also using mathematical thinking to compare, measure and look for patterns in what they found. It was a brilliant red herring and got students questioning how all of these different experiences might eventually connect. A huge appreciation to Mr Heslop for his fantastic organisation of this fieldwork.
Then came the big reveal..
Students took part in an amazing (and patience testing) puzzle and scratch-card adventure, working together to uncover clues and piece together how their individual words linked to a much bigger picture. Across Year 8, students were able to make connections, test ideas and begin to see where the expedition was heading.
And finally, our Guiding Question was revealed:
What does it mean to be human?
Since then, X33 Skipper and E33 Pioneer have been producing some absolutely brilliant work.
Students have been taking real pride in their books and producing beautiful work with strong Craftsmanship and Quality. The level of thinking in lessons has been just as beautiful. Class discussions have been thoughtful, respectful and full of really interesting ideas as students begin to grapple with identity, belief, religion, experience and what all of these things can tell us about being human.
A special shout-out has to go to Roza, who shared some of her own experiences and understanding of religion and belief with the class. Her contribution gave us even more knowledge and perspective to grapple with and really enriched the discussion.
You may also have seen on other blogs that our brilliant Year 8 staff team, alongside the amazing Mrs Mawby, have been getting out into the Doncaster community and visiting residents in local residential care homes.
Students have been getting to know individual residents, listening to their stories and beginning to piece together their life experiences. This gives them another powerful way into our Guiding Question: what can someone’s memories, relationships, experiences, challenges and achievements teach us about what it means to be human?
Students will use what they learn from these conversations to create a beautiful gift for the residents they have worked with, which will be delivered closer to Christmas.
There is already so much to celebrate, and we are only at the beginning!!
Year 8, you are absolutely smashing it. Watch this space..
What a fantastic first week back for Crew Brunel! We have packed a lot into our first week, with opportunities to build our crew community, develop new skills, explore Doncaster and prepare for the challenges of KS4.
DAY 1
We kicked off the week by rebooting crew, reconnecting with each other and establishing our KS4 norms and expectations. We also launched our exciting Micro Adventure, where students would explore Doncaster through an A–Z challenge.
We also took part in inter-crew activities, competing in a range of fun and slightly unusual challenges, including balancing a ping-pong ball on a spoon in our mouths and throwing and catching a potato using a fork! These activities gave students the chance to have fun, work together and build relationships with students from their crew.
We then finished the day by beginning our preparation for our job interviews, with students exploring six different job roles and selecting the one they were most interested in applying for. They began considering the skills, qualities and experience they could bring to their chosen role, ready for their interviews later in the week.
DAY 2
On Tuesday, we headed into Doncaster town centre for our Micro Adventure, completing a range of fun and challenging activities. These included performing the can-can outside somewhere beginning with C, hugging a tree, handing out thank-you postcards to local services, and spreading some positivity by giving flowers to members of the public. It was a great opportunity to explore our local community, step outside our comfort zones and bring a little joy to the people of Doncaster.
Back at school, we continued our interview preparation by creating CVs and cover letters for our chosen job roles. Students had to think carefully about their skills, strengths, interests and experiences, and consider how these could be presented to a potential employer. This helped students build their confidence and independence, while giving them a better understanding of what employers look for when applying for a job.
DAY 3
Wednesday was a creative and exciting day! We launched our Future Fashion project, challenging students to think about sustainability and how recycled materials could be transformed into innovative and practical workwear. Students worked collaboratively to design and create their outfits, using their creativity to turn everyday recyclable materials into something completely new.
Students also took part in interviews with external staff, giving them the opportunity to put their communication, confidence and interview skills into practice in a realistic setting. It was fantastic to see students stepping outside of their comfort zones and showcasing what they could do.
We ended the day with our fashion show, where students proudly took to the runway to showcase their incredible creations and celebrate all of their hard work!
DAY 4
Thursday focused on preparation, reflection and learning. Students began preparing for the POL community meeting on Friday by creating a short script about everything they had done during their first week back. This gave them the opportunity to reflect on the different experiences they had taken part in and decide what they wanted to share with the wider school community.
We then explored a range of different revision techniques, looking at how everyone learns differently and how students can find strategies that work best for them when remembering important information for their GCSEs. Students had the chance to try out different approaches and consider which ones they could use in their own revision.
We finished the day with our Science immersion, where we began getting an insight into what we will be learning next week. This helped students to start thinking about the new topics they will be exploring and prepare themselves for the learning ahead.
DAY 5
We finished the week with a Presentation of Learning (POL) community meeting, where crews from each year group came together to share what they had been doing during their first week back at school. It was a great way to celebrate the start of the new school year and hear about what other crews had been getting up to.
We then moved into our History immersion, where we began exploring the history of Doncaster Plant Works. Students started to learn about the importance of the Plant Works to Doncaster and began completing the first section of their work booklets, building their knowledge and understanding of the site.
We ended the week on a high with our English immersion, where we watched A Christmas Carol. While watching, students made notes on important plot points, characters and key events, helping them to begin developing their understanding of the story and preparing for the learning we will continue next week in English.
It has been a busy but brilliant first week for Crew Brunel. From exploring Doncaster and preparing for the world of work to designing sustainable fashion and developing our academic skills, students have already shown creativity, confidence, teamwork and a real readiness for KS4. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!
After our journey, we’ve refuelled with lunch and are already starting to settle into our new surroundings. Next up: finding our rooms, making our beds and getting ready to head out for our first activities!
There’s already a real buzz of excitement as everyone gets used to our home for the week. We can’t wait to see what challenges, adventures and memories the next few days bring! 💪
It was lovely to start the first day of our final year with a walk around Langsett Reservoir, taking in the stunning views and enjoying some time together in the great outdoors.
The walk was also a chance to reminisce about their very first day with us back in Year 7, when they set off on their first Outward Bound walk in Wales. Looking back, we’re not quite sure where the time has gone. It feels like we blinked, and suddenly their school journey is almost over!
It was wonderful to see everyone return after the summer well rested, refreshed and raring to tackle Year 11. There was plenty of catching up between friends, lots of laughter and, of course, plenty of opportunities to show what being a crew is all about. As tired legs started to kick in, students supported and encouraged one another, making sure everyone kept going.
Most importantly, it was fantastic to see the students enjoying themselves, spending time together and taking in the beautiful surroundings.
What a way to begin the school year – and what a way to start their final year with us. Here’s to a brilliant Year 11!
As another fantastic year draws to a close, Crew Brunel spent our final week reflecting on how far we’ve come, celebrating our achievements and preparing for the exciting journey into Year 10.
Monday saw us begin the de-gunging of our crew room! We took down displays, sorted through old textbooks and gave our space a well-deserved tidy-up. It was a lovely opportunity to look back on the memories we’ve created in our crew room over the past year while getting it ready to welcome a new crew in September.
On Tuesday, we enjoyed our final Tranquil Tuesday, spending time in classes continuing to read our anchor text and completing end-of-year learning activities. It was a calm and purposeful way to round off our academic year.
Wednesday was dedicated to completing our Crew Solo. This is always a significant moment, giving everyone the opportunity to reflect on their achievements, recognise how much they’ve grown and think carefully about the future they want to create for themselves. It was wonderful to see the maturity and thoughtfulness that everyone brought to their reflections.
We continued our de-gunging mission on Thursday, carefully organising and storing our portfolios in the library before giving the crew room one final tidy-up for its new occupants next year. We also looked at our praises and conduct one last time this year, taking a moment to celebrate the positive choices and progress that have shaped our journey together.
Our final day together started with the whole-school Community Meeting, where we celebrated the successes and achievements of the year. We reflected on memorable events such as Sports Day and the XP Arts Festival, reminding us of the fun we’ve shared and the incredible talent across our school community.
A special congratulations goes to Rowena, who was crowned Crew Brunel’s Crew Champion this term after receiving the highest number of praises across the year for our crew — a fantastic achievement that reflects her consistent effort, positivity and contribution to our crew.
We were also delighted to celebrate Chloe and Matilda, who were recognised for their beautiful artwork this term. Their creativity and talent have truly shone through and they should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments. Finally, congratulations to Rowena, Matilda and David for achieving 100% attendance this term. Their outstanding commitment and dedication earned them a place in the attendance prize draw, with David being one of the ten lucky winners. As always, we ended our Community Meeting with Appreciations, Apologies and Stands — a fitting way to close the year by recognising one another and celebrating the strength of our community.
What a year it has been. Crew Brunel, you should all be incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished. You’ve shown resilience, kindness, courage and determination, and it has been a privilege to watch each of you grow over the course of the year.
Now it’s time for a well-earned break. Have a wonderful, restful summer. Spend time with family and friends, make plenty of happy memories, stay safe, and come back refreshed and ready for the adventures that Year 10 will bring.
